Share this on

What's Selling: North, South, West and East

GDA Staff -- Gifts and Dec, 4/1/2011 2:47:33 AM

What PAMELA BRILL
CORNING, NY
IMAGINE THAT!
Toys aren't the only top sellers at this Upstate New York shop, which also carries baby clothes and dancewear. Owner Ginny Coon reveals which items are flying off shelves:
Spot It! by Blue Orange Games

Chocolate Fix from ThinkFun

Assorted children's shoes from Robeez

Assorted hats from Elope

Zoobies Blanket Pets from Zoobies

Goody Bag Purses from North American Bear

     Since Valentine's Day, ThinkFun's chocolate game has been a hit. "Our community also has a Chocolate Trail [in Corning's Gaffer District] that features local places with chocolatethemed products, so we're on the map for that," says Coon. At last month's Toy Fair, she noticed an uptick in the number of "fabulous crafts." Also on her radar: the dress-up category, particularly light-up wands, swords and tiaras from Light Up Toys which, Coon says, make good impulse buys

RICHMOND, VA
WORLD OF MIRTH
    Happiness abounds at this capital city toy store in the heart of the South. General manager and retail buyer Thea Brown notes toys bringing smiles to her customers' faces:
     Fox and Panda Squishables from Squishable

Anomia from Anomia Press

Tetris Cube from Imagination

Banana Slugfest from Play Visions

Kid Concoctions line from ALEX

To intrigue shoppers, Brown is offering a free Tetris Cube to anyone who can solve it. "So far, we haven't had any takers," she says of the 3D brainteaser's difficulty. At Toy Fair, she was intrigued by other puzzles like Perplexus and Nanno Blocks from Ohio Art.

LOS GATOS, CA
THE WOODEN HORSE
     Crafts and outdoor games are on customers' minds - and shopping lists - at this northern California toy shop. Owner Sloan Mukai shares current favorite picks:
     Spot It! from Blue Orange Games
     Stomp Rocket from D & L

Faux Bow, Doinkit Darts by Marky Sparky Toys

Hexbug from Innovation First International

Twilight Turtle from Cloud B

Friend to Friend Friendship Bracelets by ALEX

Shrinky Dinks Fairy World from Creativity for Kids

Impulse buys are also big with customers, namely Lego Mini figures, Japanese erasers from Iwako and Smencils. While at Toy Fair, Mukai says she fell in love with wooden, magnetic Tegu blocks. "They are absolutely gorgeous," she says. "I ordered them the moment I saw them." She was also impressed with ALEX's new arts and crafts line-up and the latest baby toys from Plan Toys.

COOKEVILLE, TN
DISCOVERY DEPOT
This specialty store that's part toy shop, part candy store is sweet on kids. Current top playthings include:

Playmobil School from Playmobil USA

PlasmaCar from Plasmart

Special FX Light Saber from Can You Imagine

Doinkit Darts from Marky Sparky Toys

Magna-Tiles from Valtech

Anomia from Anomia Press

When toy numbers are down, this southern store boosts its business with candy. "We can count on toys for about nine months, but candy has its peaks during Valentine's Day, Easter and Halloween," says co-owner Andy Cannon. Last October, he and his wife Sherrie combined two storefronts to create a one-stop shop.

Share this on

Talkback

We would love your feedback!

What's Selling for Summer Fun

Jul 25, 2011

Holiday Sales Ring in the New Year

Jan 13, 2012

Pre-Holiday Favorites

Nov 1, 2009

What's Selling This Spring

Jun 20, 2011

What's Selling This Spring

May 21, 2011

Also by this author

»MORE

Featured Company

FurnitureCore.com

FurnitureCore.com is a dynamic web application aimed at the furniture industry. Retailers and manufacturers alike will find our deep reserve of tools to be exactly what their furniture business needs.www.furniturecore.com... more